Current News

Leonine Public Affairs The conclusion of this week marks the midpoint of the 2018 legislative session. Because the official crossover deadline for policy bills was Friday legislators were working feverishly to move bills out of committee to ensure the other body has the ability to consider them. However, due to an unusual amount of floor activity the crossover deadline is getting an unofficial extension. Much of this can be attributed to the sudden shift in the political landscape regarding gun safety legislation. In less than two weeks time most gun safety bills went from being non-starters to must pass legislation.

by Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos Voting is the bedrock of our democracy. One-person, one-vote is an ideal that lies at the corner of our collective democratic values. On Town Meeting Day, the first Tuesday in March, citizens across Vermont come together in their communities to discuss the business of their towns. For over 200 years, Town Meeting Day has been an important political event as Vermonters elect local officers, vote on municipal and school budgets, and decide a host of other potential local issues, like bond votes or school district consolidations.

Voting on these items means a lot more than filling in an oval on a ballot. It’s an opportunity to shape your local government and provide input regarding your needs as a community member.

Vermont Business Magazine Legendary sports broadcaster Ken Squier will be honored by the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce at their Annual St Patrick’s Day Breakfast. As St Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, The Chamber will be getting a jump on the “Wearin’ of the Green” by meeting on Tuesday, March 13th. The breakfast will kick off at 7:30am at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Montpelier.

While not dubbed a “Citizen of the Year” tribute, it is intended to be a relaxed, friendly way for The Chamber to recognize and thank those citizens of Central Vermont whose contributions have significantly improved the lives of those of us who live, work, and visit here.

Vermont Business Magazine Quiros to pay back $81 million, give up resorts; VEC CEO Christine Hallquist resigns, to run for governor; Amtrak could suspend Vermont service; $15 minimum wage; Vermont Gas rate decrease would save customers $270 a year; Maine power line picked over Vermont options for Mass RFP; Woodchuck Cider ends relationship with Pabst; ​Scott, lawmakers put gun control bills on fast track; and more.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont Ski + Ride Magazine was named one of the top three specialty publications in New England at the New England Newspaper and Press Association’s annual awards dinner on February 24 in Boston. The quarterly magazine was third in General Excellence, the highest honor category, for specialty publications.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott’s Communications Director Rebecca Kelley today issued the following statement on H911, a bill that would combine the Governor’s Working Family Taxpayer Protection Act and his social security tax relief proposals with the House Ways & Means proposal to raise income taxes to fund education.

by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine If the skies seem a bit quieter around Burlington International Airport these days, it’s because the Vermont Air National Guard’s F-16s have been flying fewer sorties. And it will keep getting quieter for about the next 18 months, which will include, starting next March, about six months of no F-16 activity. But for the next few days, the political noise will get louder, and who knows when that might quiet down.

Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Labor announced Friday, March 2, 2018, three potential changes to the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, that will ultimately reduce tax rates for employers beginning July 1, 2018. These anticipated changes will also reduce the taxable wage base amount that employers currently pay on unemployment taxes by $2,000, beginning January 1, 2019, and on the benefits side, claimants are expected to see an increase in the maximum benefit amount effective July 1, 2018. Unemployment claims have been falling in Vermont the last few years. The Great Recession (2008-2009) led to Vermont falling into deficit in its unemployment trust fund. The state then had to borrow money from the federal government. The fund has since recovered allowing for a cutting of rates to employers and an increase in benefits to laid off workers.

Vermont Business Magazine Just as Vermont is getting bombed with heavy snow, Killington Resort has announced that it will invest $16 million in a number of significant upgrades ahead of the 2018-19 season. The upgrades will optimize the guest experience and make the mountain more accessible to all guests. Enhancements will include a new 6-person high speed bubble chairlift, new lift service at South Ridge, significant upgrades to the K-1 Express Gondola, additional availability of intermediate trails, improvements to existing intermediate runs, and resort-wide infrastructure upgrades including the addition of hands-free lift access validation with RFID technology at both Killington and Pico.

by Jack Hoffman Public Assets Institute While it includes some useful changes, the House bill to reform education funding fails in its stated objective, which was to “simplify the funding process” and “strengthen the connection between voters and the cost of supporting local schools.”

Vermont Business Magazine Weekly unemployment claims hit a modest spike last week, but remain lower than they were the same time last year. For the week of February 24, 2018, there were 742 claims, 330 more than than they were the previous week and 44 fewer than they were a year ago. Altogether 6,082 new and continuing claims were filed, an increase of 145 from a week ago, and 933 fewer than a year ago. For most weeks of 2017 and into 2018 claims have registered below the year before.